Mine car and the like



2 Sheets-Sheet l G/enn EEO/manda G. E. EDMUNDS MINE CAR AND THE LIKE Original Filed April 5, 1955 Nov. 2, 1937.

NOV. 2, 1937. r,- E EDMUNDS 2,097,968

MINE GAR AND THE LIKE Original Filed April 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 mem/ton wwwgfzwm Patented Nov. 2, 1937 Glenn E. Edmunds, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Bonney-Floyd Company, Columbus, Ohio. a corporation ol' Ohio y 'Application April s, 193s, serial No. 14,942 Renewed February 27, 1937 29 Claims. (Cl. 10S-464) The present invention relates to improvements in wheel mounting means, body structure and in independent wheel suspension for'vehicles and'is particularly applicable to mine cars and the like. The general suspension arrangementinvolved is y `that disclosed in my United States Patent No.

1,974,018, issued September 18, 1934.

According to the present invention, I provide self-contained, independent wheel housing and mounting units. The wheel housings are preferably integral steel castings and are preferably so designed that, through reversal of'the core in the casting operation, the two specific designs required for each car may be made without other change. ,I

A specific embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mine car embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 2a is a section substantially on the line 2a-2a of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of what is shown in Figure'Z;

Figure 4 is a section substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral Il) designates generally a mine car having a body comprising side walls as at Il, end walls I2 and I3, here shown as being of the vestibule type, and a floor plate I 4 which extends from side to side and from end to end of the car body, all portions of the plate, including the side portions as at I5, .Figure 2, being preferably at the same level.

A pair of main sills as at I6 extend from end to end of the car body in inwardly spaced relation to the side walls, the main sills being desirably constituted by bulb anged angles having bottom anges on' top of the floor plate and secured thereto. The ends'of the main sills are rigidly connected by means of end sill and bumper structures Il and I8.

The outer marginal portions of the floor plate rest on top of lower inwardly turned anges of Z-bars as at I9 and are rigidly secured to the latter, the Z-bars running from end to end of the car and constituting auxiliary sills and lower side wall portions tied in at their ends to the main sills through any suitable means such as the end Walls. The top anges of the Z-bars, which extend outwardly from their vertical webs as indicated in Figure 2, have secured thereto the horizontal flanges of angles as at 20, the vertical flanges of the angles being outward and having the lower margins of the side walls riveted thereto, At their intermediate portions, the side walls are inwardly offset as at 2 l, Figure 2a, and Z-bars as at 22, running from end to end of the-side walls, are secured over the oiset as by welding in the position shown in Figure 2a. The bars as at 422 are engageable by rotary dumping mechanism. As the vein becomes thinner so thatthe vertical clearance is insuflicient for the car, the end and side walls may be burned oi above the level of the members as at 22 so as to reduce the height of the car. Since, through the use of the Z-bars as at I9, the side walls as at II are in planes outwardly of the lateral edges of the oor plate, it will be evident 'that the capacity of the car is materially increased.

Immediately outwardly of the main sills, the side floor portions as at I5 are each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced wheel openings of which one is indicated by the'reference numeral 23, Figure 2. A wheel housing and mounting unit ,generally indicated by the reference numeral 24 is of inverted box-like formation having the end `walls 25 and 26, the side walls 21 and 28 and the top wall 29. The top wall 29 has a central upwardly arched portion 30 which provides for adequate wheel clearance. The side wall 21 has prolongations 3| and 32 beyond the end walls 25 and 26, wall 21 resting against the fiat outer face of the main' sill I6, it and the prolongations 3| and 32 being riveted to the sill. Centrally, wall 28 is provided with an outwardly tapered downwardly open hollow extension 33, this extension and the wheel housing proper being provided at their lower edges with horizontally projecting anges 34, 35, 36,31, and 38, 39, the lower faces of these anges lying in the same plane as the lower faces of the horizontal ilanges of the main sills. Flanges 36, 31, 38 and 39 are riveted to the side ooring I5 around the wheel opening 23, flanges 34 and 35 being riveted to that portion of the side ooring extending between the opening and the side wall. At its extremity, extension 33 is closed by a vertical wall 40 extended laterally of the extension into flanges 4l and 42. The end wall 40 and flanges 4I and 42 abut the vertical 4web of Z-bar I9 and are riveted thereto.

Adjacent end wall 25, side walls 21 and 28 are with a downwardly projecting lug 44 which is provided with an elongated opening 44a., the bottom prtion of the opening being below the side floor portion I5. A yoke generally designated at 45 and preferably made as a single piece steel casting, has a tubular portion 46 pivotally supported on bolt 43 through the intermediary of bushings 41 and 49. On its lower side, and intermediate the bushings, member 46 is desirably provided with a grease tting 49. The ends oi tubular portion 46 are just clear of portions 21a and 28a so that minimum axial displacement of pontion 46 is permitted.

A pair of parallel arms 56 and 5| extend from tubular portion 46 toward the housing end wall 26, the arms and the tubular portion being braced by the gusset 52. Halfway between the ends, as here shown, arms 50 and 5| are provided respectively with the inner and outer bosses 53, 54, and 55, 56. The inner bosses 53 and 55 have inner radially expanded portions 53a and 55a., the outer bosses 54 and 56 having similar radial expansions 54a and 55a., which, however, do not project below the bosses. The arms and bosses are provided with aligned hexagonal openings which receive the ends of a hexagonal stub axle 5T which carries a flanged wheel 58, the wheel and axle assembly being that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 599,552, filed March 17, 1932, now Patent No. 2,056,651 issued October 6, 1936. Obviously, the ordinary round stub axle could be substituted so that the invention is not limited in this respect. In assembly, the wheel 58 is placed between the arms and the axle inserted. With the devices in operative position, housing walls 2l and 29 lie across the ends of the axle as particularly shown in Figure 5 so as to limit its axial displacement.

At their ends remote from bolt 43, arms 56 and 5| are joined at their lower edges by a substantially horizontal wall 59 on the upper face of which are formed spring centering bosses 60 and 6| adjacent arms 50 and 5|, respectively. A vertical wall 62 connects arms 5U and 5| and the inner edge of bottom wall 59, the central portions of walls 59 and 62 being joined by a vertical partition .wall 63 as here shown, although this partition wall, if desired, may be replaced by another spring centering boss. The extremities of arms 56 and 5| and bottom wall 59 are joined by a downwardly projecting ange 64, Figures 2 and 4.

Spiral compression springs 65 and 66 have their lower ends engaged with bosses 66 and 6|, the upper ends of these springs being engaged with centering bosses 6l and 68, formed on the underside of housing wall 29 immediately above bosses 60 and 6|. A system of friction blocks could be used instead of the simple springs, if desired.

Adjacent their extremities, arms 50 and 5| have outwardly projecting lugs 50a and Sla, respectively, lug 5|a as here shown being opposite and above the lug 44 which depends from wall 28.

With the described parts in the position shown, a key 69 may be projected through the opening 44a. of lug 44 so as to underlie lug 5|a, the key having a body portion oi the outline indicated in Figure 3 underlying flange 31 of the housing and riveted thereto through the side. ooring portion |5. The key 69 limits movement apart of the yoke and housing, as will be understood. Due to this limited range of relative movement, the axle 51 cannot pass below the retaining walls 21 and 28 so as to be displaceable to inoperative position. Movement of the yoke and housing toward one another is limited through abutment of the upwardly offset extremities 56h and 5|b of the arms and the top edge of wall 62 with the undersurfaee of the housing top wall 29. In taking lateral stresses, the hub portion of wheel 58 may bear against expansions 53a. and 55a while expansions 54a and 56a may bear slidably against the inner faces of housing walls 21 and 28.

The wheel housing and mounting unit is preierably made as an integral steel casting. It not only provides a construction of great rigidity, but is much morel resistant than rolled metal to the action of corrosive waters often encountered in mines. Wall 62 of yoke 45 serves to prevent matter thrown by wheel 58 from striking and clogging springs 65 and 66. However, the spring pockets are open at their outer ends so that'any matter caught therein may pass out.

I have particularly described the Wheel housing and mounting 24 at the right hand end of the car, Figure 1. As shown, the pivot bolt 43 is toward the center of the car but it could of course be positioned toward the right hand end of the car. Exactly the same housing and mounting unit could be used for the left hand wheel l0, Figure 1, although in that case the pivot bolts would both be to the left of the wheels, whereas, as shown, the pivot bolt ll associated with the left hand housing 'l2 is toward the center of the car. Due to the symmetrical design of housing 24, to produce housing l2, it is merely necessary to reverse the core, as will be understood. Yoke 45 may be used in either position, since it is entirely symmetrical and since each arm is provided with an abutment for cooperation with an abutment key 69. With the yoke arranged in housing l2, the lug 50a, will cooperate with the key, instead of lug 5|a as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4.

It will be understood that only two housing designs are required regardless of the positioning of the pivot bolts at the ends of the housing. For example, on the opposite side of the car from that shown in Figure 1, a housing 24 would be used at the left and a housing '|2 at the right and a similar rearrangement would follow if the pivot bolts were disposed toward the ends instead of toward the center of the car. With the pivot bolts both toward the same end of the car, two identical housings would be used on one side of the car and two of the opposite design on the other side of the car.

In order to strengthen the side walls, the housings may be connected to the same through gusset plates. In Figure 2, the casting is provided with a transversely extending n 'i3 extending from the arched portion 30 along the top of extension 33. A gusset plate 14 is riveted to iin 13 and has a turned iiange 14a lying against side wall Il and riveted thereto.

It will be understood that variations may be made in the described parts and their arrangement without departure from the scope of the invention and that accordingly I do not limit outer extremity a vertical ange riveted to said vertical web, said housing having provisions for mounting a wheeled stub axle so as to constitute a self-contained wheel housing and mounting unit.

2. A mine car having an under-structure including a main silland an auxiliary sill spaced outwardly from' the main sill, said auxiliary sill comprising a vertical web and an inwardly turned ange, a wheel housing positioned between said sills and having a portion secured to said main sill, said wheel housing-having a rigid box-like extension extending to the auxiliary sill, said extension having a horizontal bottom ange riveted to said inwardly turned flange and having at its outer extremity a vertical flange riveted to said vertical web, said housinghaving provisions formounting a wheeled stub axleso as to constitute a self-contained wheel housing and mounting` unit..

3. A mine car having an under-structure ina wheel opening adjacent the main sill, a wheel ,30

housing closing said opening and extending above the plane of the floor, said Ihousing having a rigid extension `extending to the auxiliary sill, said housing being secured to the -mainvsill and they a wheeled stub axle so as to constitute a selfcontained wheel housing fand mountingunit.

4. A mine car having an under-structure in`- cluding a main sill and` an auxiliary sill spaced A outwardly from the main sill, said auxiliary sill comprising a vertical web and an'. inwardly turned iiange, a wheel housing positioned between said sills and having a portion secured to said main sill, said wheel housing having. a rigidv posed between said housing and yoke remote from the pivoting axis of the latter.

5. A mine car having an under-structure including a main sill and an auxiliary sill spaced "outwardly from the main sill, a bottom floor including a central portion inwardly of the main vsill and a side portion extending between the sills, said floor portions being in the same plane and being secured to the sills at the lower portions of the latter, said side door portion having a Wheel opening adjacent the main sill,-a.wheel housing closing said opening and extending above' the plane of the floor, said housing having a rigid extension extending to the auxiliary sill, said housing being secured to the main sill and the housing and extension having bottom iianges secured to the side floor portion, the outer extremity of said extension being secured to said auxiliary sill, a pivot bolt supported by side walls of said housing, a wheel mounting yoke pivoted on said bolt, and yieldable kmeans interposed between said housing and yokeremote from the pivoting axis of theJ latter.

6. Wheel mounting means comprising ahous- Q ing having top, end and side walls, a pivot bolt -supportedby the side walls-,of the housing adjacent one end of the latter, a yoke pivotally supported at one end on said bolt, yieldable means between the other end of the yoke andthe top wall of the housing, the yoke having .stub axle receiving recesses between its pivoting axis and saidyieldable means.

7. A wheel housingaccording to claim 6 formed as an integral casting, wherein receiving means ing.

9. Wheel mounting'means comprising a housing having top, end and side walls, a pivot bolt supported by the side walls of the housing advjacent one end of the latter, a yoke pivotallysupported at one end on said bolt, yieldable means between the other end of the yoke and the top wall of the housing, the yoke having stub axle receiving recesses between `its pivoting axis 'and said yieldable means, and abutmentv means secured to a side wall ofthe-housing and cooperating with an abutment portion of the yoke to limit movement apart'of the housing and yoke. 10. Wheelmounting means 'comprising a housing having top, en d and side walls, a pivot bolt supported by the side walls of `the housing ad` jacent one end .of the latter, a yoke pivotal'y supported at `one end on said bolt, yieldable means. between the other end of the yoke and the top'wall of the housingthe'yoke having stub axle 'receiving recessesbetween its pivoting axis Y andsaid yieldablemeans, andabutment means .secured to a side walloflzthe housing and cooperating with an abutment portion of the yoke' `to limitmovement apartoff the housing and so v yoke, said-abutment means being in. the form of a key riveted tothe side wallandthe abutment portion-of the yoke being constituted by"a laterally projecting lug. Y f

11. Wheel mounting means comprising a housing having top, end and side walls, a yoke which has a pivoting axis adjacent one or` the other of thehousing end walls, yieldable means inter-V posed between the free end of the yoke andy the housing top wall, the yoke having stub vaxle receiving recesses which are half Way between the housing end walls, regardless of which end of the housing the yoke is pivoted in.

12. Mounting means for a wheeled stub axe,

m said means comprising a yoke having arms extendng'sidebyside and having stub axle receiving `recesses intermediate their ends,.pivotal pro- 4visions, at one end of the yoke, and a transverse spring seating web connecting the arms at the other end of the yoke.

13. Mounting means for a wheeled stub axle,

said means comprising a yoke having arms extending side by side and having stub axle receiving recesses intermediate their ends, pivotal provisions at one endof the yoke, a transverse spring seating web connecting the arms at the other end of the yoke, and a guard plate substantially perpendicular to said web at the inner edge of the latter and connecting said arms.

14. Mounting means for a `wheeled stub axle, said means comprising a yoke having arms extending side by side and having stub axle receiving recesses intermediate their ends, pivotal provisions at one end of the yoke, a transverse spring seating web connecting the arms at the other end of the yoke, and a guard plate substantially perpendicular to said web at the inner edge of the latter and connecting 'said arms, the web and guard plate constituting an upwardly and outwardly open pocket.

15. Mounting means for a wheeled stub axle, said means comprising a yoke having arms extending side by side and having stub axle receiving recesses intermediate their ends, pivotal provisions at one end of the Yoke, a transverse spring seating web connecting the arms at the other end of the yoke, and abutment lugs on the outer faces of the arms adjacent the free ends of the latter.

16. In combination, a housing comprising top. end and side walls, the side walls having inner surfaces in parallel planes, a pivot bolt extending between the side walls adjacent one of the end walls, a yoke pivoted on said bolt and having portions spaced from the bolt and close to said Vside wall surfaces for guided contact with the latter, a wheeled stub axle mounted in the yoke, and yieldable means between the yoke and the housing top wall.

17. In combination, a, housing comprising top. end and side walls, the side walls having inner surfaces in parallel planes, a pivot bolt extending between the side walls adjacent one of the end walls, a yoke pivoted on said bolt and having portions spaced from the bolt and close to said side wall surfaces for guided contact with the latter, a wheeled stub axle mounted in the yoke. yieldable means between the yoke and the housing top wall, and means fixed to the housing and engageable by the yoke to limit movement of the yoke away from said top wall.

18. In combination, a housing comprising top, end and side walls, the side walls having inner surfaces in parallel planes, a pivot bolt extending between the side walls adjacent one of the end walls, a yoke pivoted on said bolt and having portions spaced from the bolt and close to said side wall surfaces for guided contact with the latter, said portions having aligned openings into which a stub axle may be introduced axially, a wheel' stub axle in said openings and retained therein by said side wall surfaces, and yieldable means between the yoke and the housing top wall.

v 19. In combination, a housing comprising top, end and side walls, the side walls having inner surfaces in parallel planes, a pivot bolt extend- -ing between the side walls adjacent one of the end walls, a yoke pivoted on said bolt and having portions spaced from the bolt and close to said side wall surfaces for guided contact with the latter, said portions having aligned openings into which a stub axle may be introduced axially, a wheeled stub axle in said openings and retained therein by said side wall surfaces, yieldable means between the yoke and the housing top wall, and means xed to the housing and 'engageable by the yoke to limit movement of the yoke away from said top wall.

.20. A mounting yoke for a wheeled stub axle, said yoke comprising parallel arms joined alt one end and having pivoting provisions at said end, and spring seating provisions at the other acontece end of said yoke, said arms having aligned axle- 'receiving openings substantially midway between said pivoting and seating provisions.

2l. A mounting yoke for a wheeled stub axle, said yoke comprising parallel arms joined at one end and having pivoting provisions at said end, and spring seating provisions at the other end of said yoke, said arms having aligned axle-receiving openings substantially midway between said pivoting and seating provisions, said arms having outwardly projecting portions at said openings for transmitting lateral thrusts.

22. In a vehicle comprising a lading body having a floor and side walls, main sills spaced inwardly from the side walls, the oor being provided with wheel openings between the sills and side walls, wheel mounting means at each opening and each comprising a housing extending between a sill and side wall and secured thereto and to the iioor margins at an opening, an arm pivotally mounted in the housing, a wheel carried by the arm at a distance from the arm pivot, and cushion means between the arm and a. superjacent portion of the housing.

23. In a vehicle comprising a lading body having a iloor and side walls, main sills spaced inwardly from the side walls the floor being provided with wheel openings between the sills and side walls, wheel mounting means at each opening and each comprising a housing extending between a. sill and side wall and secured thereto and to the door margins at an opening, an arm pivotally mounted in the housing, a wheel carried by fthe arm at a distance from xthe arm pivot. cushion means between the arm and a superjacent portion of the housing, and means secured to the housing limiting movement of said arm under the action of said spring.

24. Wheel mounting means comprising a .wheel housing, an arm pivotally mounted in said housing, a Wheel in said housing carried by said arm at a distance from the arm pivot, and vcushion means between the arm and a superjacent portion of the housing.

25. Wheel mounting means comprising a Wheel housing, an arm pivotally mounted in said housing, a. wheel in said housing carried by said arm at a distance from the arm pivot, cushion means between the arm and a superjacent portion of the housing, and means secured to the housing limiting movement of said arm under the action of said spring.

26. Wheel mounting means comprising a wheel housing, an arm pivotally mounted in said housing, a wheel in said housing carried by said arm at a distance from the arm pivot, said housing having wall portions in guiding relation to said arm, and cushion means between the arm and a. superjacent portion of the housing.

27. Wheel mounting means comprising a wheel housing, an arm pivotally mounted in said housing, a wheel in said housing carried by said arm at a distance from the arm pivot, said housing having wall portions in guiding relation to said arm, cushion means between the arm and a superjacent portion of the housing, and means secured to the vhousing limiting movement of said arm under the action of said spring.

28. In a vehicle, a lading body structure comprising main longitudinal sills and auxiliary sills spaced outwardly from said main sills, side iloor portions extending between the main sills and auxiliary sills, said floor portions being provided with wheel openings between the main and auxiliary sills, wheel mounting means at each with wheel openings between the main and auxiliary sills, wheel mounting means at each opening and each comprising a housing extending between -a main and an auxiliary sill and secured thereto and to the floor margins at an opening, an arm pivotally mounted in the housing, a wheel carried by the arm at a distance from the arm pivot, cushion means between the arm and superjacent portion of the housing, and means secured to the housing limiting movement of said 10 arm under the action of said spring.

GLENN E. EDMUNDS. 

